Drawing up a brighter future for residents

Three thousand primary school children aged 4 – 11 years from Clayton, Beswick and Openshaw will receive a copy of the 2006/7 east Manchester New Deal for Communities Annual Report.

Produced this year in the form of a colouring book, each child will also be presented with a set of crayons and be encouraged to enter a colouring competition to win vouchers for toys.

Illustrated by local resident, Bob Wright, the report features up-dates on the Beacons regeneration programme including topics ranging from building community capacity and cohesion to crime and community safety. The annual report also up-dates local people on other key regeneration activity including the physical environment, health and wellbeing, education and worklessness.

Sean McGonigle, east Manchester's NDC Co-ordinator said: "Every year we look for a creative way to get our message across to the local community and this year is no exception. These children represent the future for this area so it seemed appropriate that they help us to get our message across. The pictures they will colour in tell the story of the regeneration in the last 12 months whilst the words are aimed at their parents and inform them of the progress made."

"There are only three years to go now before Beacons comes to an end and we are now concentrating on how we can contribute to the long term, sustainable regeneration of east Manchester. Although we will continue to deliver some projects of our own, over 30 during 2007/8, we'll be working closely with New East Manchester to look at how the two organisations can work together to form a new partnership to ensure the regeneration will continue across a wider area beyond 2010."

In the past year over £2.75 million was spent across 42 projects covering a range of issues including crime and community safety, housing, education, sport and health and well being. The New Deal for Communities programme is well into the second half of its 10 year programme that will see over £78 million regenerating the Beswick, Openshaw and Clayton areas.

Highlights of the year include: 

• Completion of a £1.1 million Sporting Edge sports facility in Openshaw
• Mini Movie Makers DVD produced by young people and shown at the Printworks in Manchester city centre
• Introduction of community radio station ALLfm to east Manchester 
• Further Improvements to Medlock Valley and Philips Park
• Second group of four Regeneration Assistants recruited
• Development of Bang of the Voice Youth Forum at Crossley House Youth Centre

A copy of the report is available from the NDC offices at 187 Grey Mare Lane, Beswick or by visiting http://www.eastmanchesterndc.com/.

Media contact

Roz Hughes, Tel:0161 223 1155.